Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



R. K. PERKINS.

MAIL BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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RICHARD K. PERKINS, F HOWARD CITY, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,983.

- To all whomit may concern: I

. Be it known that I, RICHARD K. PERKINS, citizen of the United States, residing at Howard City, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Bag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for catching and delivering mail bags, and it has for its object to provide a simple and eflicient device for delivering mail bags from a moving train to a catching device at a station, or vice versa; the parts of the device being so arranged as to be readily interchangeable. v The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are append ed hereto and form a tion.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying like or corresponding parts throughout the drawings wherein like characters denote several views, and in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail bag catcher and deliverer constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in vhich the expansible ring is yieldably held in engagement with its retaining element.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, l designates the mail car of a train, and 2 a stationar support arranged adjacent and at one side of the track over which the mail car or train is operated.

Pivoted as at 3 to a suitable casting l, the latter being rigid with the mail car 1, is an arm 5, the free end of which is bifurcated as at 6 to receive an extension 7 of the retaining element 8, the said element consisting of oppositely flared or divergent channel arms 9, integral at one end, the respective channels terminating at a common point to form at said point a socket 11. A pivot pin 12 serves as a retaining element whereby element 8 is held in operative position relatively to the arm or crane 5. As a means whereby the said arm or crane 5 is held against lateral movement, I provide dc? part of this applica tachable brace rod 13, one end of which is fastened to the arm, the opposite end being detachably connected to the mail car 1 as shown. Arm 5 is additionally braced as indicated at l l, the said brace 14 being fas tened one end to the arm and at its opposite end Within a casting 15 therefor, the arrangement of the brace within the casting providing for pivotal movement of the arm or crane when rod or hook 13 is disengaged.

An expansible ring, designated as an entirety by the numeral 16 is so shaped as to exert, when a portion thereof is fitted be tween the flared arms 9, outward pressure sufiicient to retain the ring in yieldable engagement with the element 8, that portion of the ring engageable with the arm 9 fitting the channel formed therein, the terminals of the ring (the latter being divided as indicated in Fig. 8) fitting the socket 11. As shown in Fig. 1, ring 16 is bent at diametrically opposite points, inwardly, the said ring having attached thereto a mail bag support arm 17 the free end of which is provided with a clamp member 18 adapted for engagement with the mail bag to be transferred. V v A second crane or receiving arm 19 extends laterally from stationary support member 2 upon the same plane as the arm 5 aforesaid, the arm 19 operating or passing through a sleeve 20 mounted stationary relatively to the said support 2. A receiving hook 21 is attached to or formed upon the outer end or extremity of the arm 19, said hook being flared at one end to receive the expansible ring 16 in a transferring operation, the engagement between the said hook and the said ring, as the mail car 1 passes the stationary support 2, causing the said ring to be withdrawn from engagement with the element 8, and the mail bag carried by the ring to be properly, effectually, and safely transferred.

Arm 19 passes through stationary support member 2 as shown to advantage in Fig. 2, a nut 22 serving to hold the said arm against longitudinal play. When it is desired that the said arm be turned to expose the flared end of the hook member 21 in an opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 2, nut 22 is manipulated, the arm moved slightly longitudinally of the sleeve, and then turned, in which event the said arm is again returned to its normal horizontal position, the nut, tightened and the hook 21 held immovable relatively to the sleeve by reason of its engagement therewith.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is apparent that a transferring operation may be efiected regardless of the direction of travel of the train; that the engagement between the expansible ring and the element 8, yieldable in its nature, is suflicient to support the mail bag to be transferred in proper place until engaged by receiving hook 21; that the crane or arm 5 may be swung laterally to extend parallel with the sides of the mail car when it is desired that the said arm be not in use; and that the delivery apparatus and the receiving apparatus are interchangeable to in this manner provide for a transfer of mail matterfrom the stationary support to the moving train as well as from the moving train to the stationary support as shown.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described mv invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A deliverer for mail 7 bags including a suitable support, a retaining member mov- Gopies of this patentcmay be obtained for able'laterally of the support,'saidmember comprising'divergent channel arms, the channels terminating at a common point and forming at said point a socket, and a divided expansible ring arranged to engage the channel arms, the terminals of the ring fitting said socket, said ring acting as the mail bag support.

2. A deliverer for mail matter including a laterally movable crane; a pivoted retaining element carried by the said crane, said element consistingof branch arms, channeled throughout their length, the channels leading to a common point and forming at the said point a socket", an eXpansible ring yieldably engageable with thesaid arms, said ring fitting the channel aforesaid and the socket; and means suspending the mail matter from the ring, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A deliverer for mail matter including a crane, a retaining element attached to the crane, said element consisting of branch arms channeled throughout their length, the channels terminating at a common point and forming thereat a socket, a divided eXpan sible ring engageable with the said element, a portion of the ring fitting the channels of the respective arms, and also the socket, engagement between the said ring and the said element serving as a means for yieldably holding the ring in place, and means carried by the ring for supporting the mail matter acted upon, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD K. PERKINS.

Witnesses: Y

S. W. PERKINS, 7

HELEN RHaamson.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of "Patents,

Washington, I). C, 

